John l



J.L.HALL. v

SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION FROM A SENDING STATIGN TOONE OR MOI-IE RECEIVING STATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUILZB. I9I8.

1,395,593, Patented J um: 10, 1919;

67m 75 I ReceIving Station.

sendng Station.

Inventor: Jo n 1... Hal I, b5 "A? His .sqt'torne UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN L. HALL, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A' CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION FROM A SENDING-STATION TOONE OR MORE RECEIVING-STATIONS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed August 28, 1918. Serial No. 251,854.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. HALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems forTransmitting Information from a Sending-Station to One or MoreReceiving-Stations, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric signaling and has for its object therovision of an improved signaling system or transmitting informationfrom a sending station to one or more receiving stations. My inventionis particularly adapted for transmitting ranges and deflections, orboth, from a range finding or fire control station to one or moredistant points as, for instance, to the gun stations. In my previousPatent No. 1,077,706, dated November 4, 1913, I have disclosed a systemof this general character and my present invention is in the nature ofan improvement upon the system disclosed in said patent.

My invention will best be understood from the following description,taken ,in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a diagram of the circuits, showing the mechanism of the sendingstation and one receiving station; Fig. 2 shows in' detail twoindicatdrs, one in section and one in elevation; and Fig. 3 is anelevation for the casing of the indicating drums at a receiving stationon a small scale.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. I

Referring to the drawings it will be seen thatI have shown one sendingstation and one receiving station although, as hereinafter pointed out,more than one receiving station may be employed. Located at the sendingstation is a shaft 1 which is continuously rotated at a substantiallyconstant speed by an electric motor M through reduction gearing asshown, and secured to this shaft are four contact arms 2, 3, 4 and 5.

At the receiving station is located a shaft 6 driven at a substantiallyconstant speed by an electric motor M through reduction gearing which,in this case, as shown, is a worm gearing. The shaft is driven through aspring 7 the function of which will hereinafter appear. Secured to thisshaft is a drum 8 having a gear 9 secured thereto.

This shaft, 6 also may drive two indicators A- and B. Two moreindicators C and D secured to the shaft 6 may likewise be driven fromthe shaft 6 through an intermediate gear 10 from the gear 9. Theintermediate gear 10 is controlled by escapement mechanism consisting ofa pin wheel 11 and a pawl 12 ivoted at 13.

ioiiperating with the rotating contacts 2, 3, 4, 5 at the sendingstations,,are stationary contacts 14, 15, 16, 17 which contacts areadjustable around the shaft by any suitable means, such as gearing 18,19, 20, 21 and handles 18, 19, 20, 21' shown. Pointers and dialstherefor indicate the position of the adjustable contacts. I have shownmy apparatus as adapted for transmitting ranges or deflections orbothfrom the range finding or fire control station. Two of theindicators A and B .indicate the ran e, while the other two indicators Cand D inc mate the deflections in knots. It may be stated that such adeflection relates tomoving targets and is usually calculated in knotsright or knots left from 1 to 25,. indicating the difference in speedbetween the firin station and the'moving target. The signa s ofdeflection are made by designating the Nos. 1 to 25 as knots leftand 26to as knots right. In Fig. 2 I have shown one of the indicators indetail as consisting of an electromagnet 22 mounted on a base 22'loosely supporting shaft 6. This electromagnet is in the form of a drum23 of magnetic inaterial having a winding 24 inclosed therein.Surrounding the electromagnet is an indicator cylinder 31, upon whichthe numerals are marked. This cylinder rides upon the drum-shaped frameof the electromagnet through ball bearings '25, and is free to projectsinward either rotate with the shaft or remain stationary. The indicatorcylinder is positively driven by an arm 26 which normally and engagesprojection 27 on the cylinder. This arm is pivoted at 28 and when theelectromagnet 22 is energized, it is moved on the pivot so as to moveaway from the projection 27 and release the cylinder. This isaccomplished by having the end 29 of the arm 26 of magnetic material sothat it will be attracted by the magnetic drum when the winding isenergized. The arm is normally moved into the position shown in thedrawing by the spring 30. When the indicating-cylinder 31 is releasedfrom engagement by the arm 26 so that it is no longer positively driven,it is held in the 7 position in which it happens to be when released bythe roller 32 which engages the notches 33 around the periphery asshown. The roller is held firmly in the notch by an electromagnet 34which is energized at the same time as the electromagnet 22 isenergized. In the drawing there are four indicators A B and C D, eachconstructed as above described, and also four electromagnets 34, 35, 36,37 for holding their respective indicator cylinders in position. Theindicator magnet and the holding magnet are energized when the one ofthe rotating contacts 2, 3, 4, 5 corresponding to this particularindicator engages its stationary contact. This obviously is once duringevery rotation of said rotating contacts, thus arm 26 will move. out ofthe path of projection 27 and permit the cylinder to remain in astationary position corresponding 'to the number indicated by itsrespective pointer and dial.

As thus far described, assuming that the shafts 1 and 6, which includesshaft 6, are operating in exact synchronism and are in proper phaserelation, which operating means are more fully described hereinafter,the operation will be as follows: For purposes of illustration let it beassumed that the operator wishes to transmit a deflection of eight knotsleft. In order to do this, he will turn the handle 20 until the pointercomes opposite the numeral 8, thereby turning the contact 16 to acorresponding angle and turn handle 21" to 0. A circuit will then becompleted through the holding magnet 37 and the magnet 22 of indicator Dwhen the rotating arm -'1 engages the stationary arin 16. Since it isassumed that the shafts are rotating in exact synchronism, this will bewhen the same number on the indicating cylinder is in a correspondingposition. The circuit of the two magnets is as follows: From thepositive side of the line through the contacts on the shaft 1, brush 42,conductor 43, electromagnet 37, conductor 44 to electromagnet 22 ofindicator D and to the other side of the line through conductor 49. Theresult is that the arm 26 of indicator D is withdrawn from engagementwith the indicator cylinder so that the latter stops at the same timethe roller 32 is forced into engagement with the notch on the cylindercorresponding to the selected number by the electromagnet 37. In asimilar manner the cylinder of indicator C would stop at 0. If insteadof eight knots left, it was desired to transmit a deflection of eighteenknots left, the handle 21 would likewise be turned to 1, so that thenumber 1 of indicator C would stop in a position corresponding to 8 ofindicator D. It is understood, of course, that these numbers are readthrough an opening in the casing as shown in Fig. 3. In like manner, intransmitting the range, handles 18 and 19 will be operated.

It is obvious that it is practically impossible to have two shafts,operated independently by two electric motors, rotate in exactsynchronism. I have, therefore, provided means for bringing the shaftsinto synchronism. It will be noted that the intermediate gear 10 iscontrolled by an escapement consisting of a pin wheel 11 and acooperating pawl 12 pivoted at 13. This escapcment is adapted tointerrupt the rotation of the intermediate gearing 10, and hence willstop both gears 9, 9 and the indicators driven thereby. This pawl ismoved .to one position by an electromagnet 5O and moved to the oppositeposition by a spring 51. It will readily be understood that when themagnet is energized to release the pin wheel, the latter will turnthrough a distance equal to onehalf the distance between the pins andwill not turn further until the magnet is dergized. This is awell-undcrstood arrangement and requires no detail of description.

At a certain position of the shaft 1 which may be called thesynchronizing position, two contacts 52 and 53 are electricallyconnected by a switch arm 54 pivoted at 55 provided with a roller 56which engages a notch in the disk 57. When'the shaft is not in thisposition, the switch arm will be held out of engagement with thecontacts by reason of the fact that the roller rides on the periphery ofthe disk. The drum 8 which is driven by the shaft 6 is likewise providedwith a notch which accommodates two rollers 58 and 59". The roller 58 isattached to a switch arm 60 pivoted at 61, which when the roller is outof the notch, electrically connects the contacts 62 and 63. The roller59 is attached to another switch arm 64- which, as shown, is pivotedconcentrically with the switch arm 58 and this switch arm electricallyconnects contacts 65 and 66. As shown, when two rollers are in the notchthe contacts 65 and 66 are connected while the contacts 62 and 63 aredisconnected. In other words, these two switch arms are positively set.The contacts 62 and 63 control the circuit of the electromagnet 50,which in turn controls the pawl of the escapemcnt, while the contactsand 66 control the circuit of an electromagnet 67 which holds the switchlever 60 in its closed circuit position when energized. The circuit ofthe electromagnet 50 is also controlled by a contact segment 68 rotatedby the motor M and engaged by the brush 69. This is for the purpose ofenergizing the magnet 50 periodically for a definite interval.

Assuming now that when the shaft 1 reaches the position in which theroller 56 engages the notch and the contacts 52 and 53 are connected,the shaft 6 is in a corresponding position so that the two rollers 58and 59 are in their notch. In this case the magnet 50 will be energizedin the following manner: From the positive side of the line throughcontacts 52 and 53, conductor 70, and thence through contacts 65 and 66,magnet 67 to the negative side of the line. The energization of themagnet 67 will draw the switch arm 60 down so as .to electricallyconnect the contacts 62 and 63 thereby energizing themagnet 50 from thepositive side of the line through the segment 68 and brush 69, magnet50, and contacts 63 and 62 to the other side of'the line. If more thanone receiving station is used, the synchronizing magnets 67 areconnected in series as shown by 67, 67", 67'. This will cause the pawl12 to be attracted and release the pin-wheel, thereby allowing theindicators to advance a certain amount. As soon as this advance takesplace, the roller 58 by engaging the periphery of its drum causes thecontacts 62 and 63 to be connected and maintain the circuit of themagnet 50 independent-1y of the magnet 67. This circuit will bemaintained until the-shaft 6 makes a complete revolution, since thecontacts 62 and 63 will be kept connected during this revolution. Themagnet will be intermittently energized at the segment 68 so as topermit the shaft 6 to rotate continuously. Suppose, however, that whenthe shaft 1 reaches the synchronizing position and the contacts 52 and53 are connected, the shaft 6 has not yet reached that position or, forthat matter, has just passed that position. In this case the magnet 67will not be energized at the synchronizing position, but the magnet 50will, of course, be energized so that the shaft 6 will continue torotate. WVhenever the shaft 6 reachesits synchronizing position and therollers 58, 59 drop into their notches, the magnet 50 will bedeenergized since the magnet 67 is not energized to hold the contacts 62and 63 connected. It is of course understood that the through thecontacts 52 and 53.

disk 57 is rotating continuously and alternately opening and closing thecircuit of magnet 67 at contacts 52 and 5 3. The shaft 6 will,therefore, stop rotation until the shaft 1 reaches a synchronizingposition, whereupon the magnet 67 will be energized The 'two shaftswill, therefore, start off again in synchronism. It will be understood,of course, that while the shaft 6 is not rotating, the motor doescontinue to rotate but merely places the spring 7 under tension. It maybe, therefore, that the tension of the spring will be continuallyincreased, so in order to guard against trouble from this source, Iprovide means for slowing down the motor when the tension of the springreaches a certain point or if the tension still continues to increase toactually stop the motor M.

' This I accomplish in the following manner:

by a circuit from the positive line through the conductor 80, throughthe motor M, conductor 81 to the slip ring 73, contact 71, brush 82 andconductor 83 to the negative line. Contact 71 is connected to the hub ofthe worm gear driven by the motor, Which contact engages a segment 72connected to the slip ring 73 when the relative movement between theshaft and the Worm gear reaches a certain point, thereby inserting aresistance 74, and upon further rotation the circuit is opened by thecontact passing off of the segment 72. The motor will then stopwhereupon the spring 7 will give up its energy to the shaft to rot-atethe same until the circuit is again established by the contact movingforward as will be Well understood.

7 When there is more than one receiving station, the connections to thesending station are identical with those shown, except that conductor 75will enter each of the subsequent receiving stations as conductor of thefirst receiving station. Therefore, it will be seen that electromagnet67 will not be energized until shaft 6 of all-receiving stations reachesa synchronizing position, whereupon the operation will proceed as aboveset forth.

It will also be observed that when there are several receiving stationsand any one or all should be out of synchronism, a synchronous relationbetween allreceiviing stations will be established simultaneously meansfor controlling the driving connection between the indicator and theelement, a sending station comprising an element rotated continuously insynchronism with the element at the receiving station, and means wherebyat a predetermined point in the travel of the element at the sendingstation the electromagnet is afiected to render the driving connectioninoperative and cause the indicator to be stopped at the correspondingpoint in the rotation of the element at the receiving station.

2. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising a continuouslyrotating element, a rotatable indicator arranged to be driven by saidelement, electromagnetic means for controlling the driving connectionbetween the indicator and the element, a sending station comprisinganelement rotated continuously in synchronism with the element at thereceiving station, a contact member mounted to rotate with the elementat the sending station, a stationary contact adjustable to variouspositions for engagement by the rotating contact and connections wherebyupon the making of said contact the electromagnet is affected to renderthe driving connection inoperative and cause the indicator to be stoppedat the corresponding point in the rotation of the element at thereceiving station.

3. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising an indicator, acontinuously rotating element arranged to make a driving connection withthe. indicator at a point in its travel, electromagnetic means forcontrolling the driving connection, a sending station comprising anelement rotating continuously in synchronism with the element at thereceiving station and means whereby at a predetermined point in thetravel of the element at the sending station the electromagnet isaffected to render the driving connection inoperative.

4. In a signaling system a sending station comprising a contmuouslyrotating element, a receiving station including an, indicator and anelement rotating in synchronism with the element at the receivingstation arranged make a driving connection with the indi- I cator at apoint in its travel determined at the sending station, electromagneticmeans for controlling the driving connection, and means whereby at thesaid determined point in the travel of the elementat' the sendingstation the electromagnet is affected to render the driving connectioninoperative.

5. In a signaling system,- a receiving station comprising ap-luralityjof indicators, a continuously rotating element arranged tomake a driving connection with the indicators at a point in its travel,electromagnetic means for controllng the driving ponnection, asendingstation "comprising an element rotating continuously in synchronism withthe element at the receiving station, and means whereby at apredetermined point the electromagnetic means are affected to render thedriving connection inoperative.

6. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising a continuouslyrotating element, a plurality of rotatable indicators arranged to bedriven by said element, electromagnetic means for controlling thedriving connection between the indicators and the element, a sendingstation comprising an element rotated continuously in synchronism withthe element at the receiving station, a plurality of contact membersmounted to rotate with the element at the sending station, a pluralityof stationary contacts adjustable to various positions for engagement bythe rotating contacts and connections whereby upon the making of saidcontacts the respective electromagnetic means are afiected to render thedriving connection inoperative and cause the indicators to be stopped atthe corresponding point in the rotation of the element at the receivingstation.

7. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising a continuouslyrotating element, a rotatable indicator, a member driven by said elementarranged to engage said indicator to drive the same, and anelectromagnet for controlling the engagement between the member and theindicator, a sending station comprisin an element continuously rotatingin sync ronism with the element at the receiving station, and meanswhereby at a predetermined point in the travel of the element at thesending station the electromagnet is affected to render the drivingconnection inoperative and cause-the indicator to be stopped at thecorresponding point in the rotatiton of the element at, the receivingstation.

8. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprisin a continuouslyrotating element, a rotata 1e indicator arranged to be driven by saidelement provided with a series of notches corresponding to the numbersindicated thereon, an electromagnetically controlled mernber arranged toengage in said notches to hold the indicator in a stationary position,electromagnetic'means for controlling the driving connection between theindicator and the said element; a sending station comprising an elementcontinuously rotating insynchronism with the element at the receivingstation, and means whereby at a predetermined point in the travel of theelement at the sendin station the electromagnetic means is' a ected torender the driving connection inoperative and cause the indicator to bestopped at the corresponding point in the rotation of the element at thereceiving station.

9. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising a continuouslyrotating element, an electromagnet, a rotatable indlcator, a rotatingarmature for said electromagnet continuously driven by said elementarranged to engage said indicator, a sending station comprising anelement rotated con-- electromagnet, a rotating armature for saidelectromagnet continuously driven .by said element arranged to engagesaid indicator, and means whereby at a predetermined point in therotation of said armature the electromagnet is energized to disengagesaid armor ture from the indicator and cause it to stop.

11 ha signaling system, a receiving station comprising a' continuouslyrotating element, a rotatable indicator arranged to be driven by saidelement, electromagnetic means for controlling the driving connectionbetween the indicator and the element, a sending station comprising anelement rotated continuously in synchronism with the element at thereceiving station, and means whereby the latter element drives theindicator to a point determined at the sending station, at which theelectromagnet is affected to render the driving connection inoperativeto stop the indicator, and means independent of said driving means formain-' tainin said elements in synchronism.

12. n a signaling system, a receiving station comprising an elementcontinuously driven through a yielding connection, a rotatable indicatorarranged to be driven by said element, electromagnetic means forcontrolling the driving connection between the indicator and theelement, a sending station comprising an element rotated continuously insynchronism with the element at the receiving station, and means wherebythe latter element drives the indicator to a point determined at thesending station, at which the electromagnet is affected to render thedriving connection inoperative to stop the indicator.

13. In a signaling system, a receiving station comprising an elementcontinuously driven through a yielding connection arranged to slow downor stop the motor and subsequently to restore the motor to its normalIllDIl'lIlg position, a rotatable indicator arranged to be driven bysaid element, elec,

tromagnetic means 'for controlling the driving connection between theindicator and the element, a sending station comprlsing an elementrotated continuously in synchronism with the element at the receiving,station, and means whereby the latter element drives the indicator to apoint determined at the sending station, at which the electromagnet isaffected to render the driving connection inoperative to stop theindicator, and means independent of said driving means for maintaininsaid elements in synchronism.

14:. n a signaling system, a sending station comprising an elementdriven at a substantially constant speed, a receiving station comprislngan element driven at substantially the same speed, a rotatable indicatorarranged to be driven by said latter element, means whereby the latterelement drives the indicator, providing the indicator is not 1n acorresponding position, and causes it to stop when the elements coincidein position,

an electromagnet for controlling the driving connection between theindicator and its driving element, "and means whereby at a predeterminedpoint in the travel of the element at the sending station theelectromagnet is affected to render the driving connection inoperativeand cause the indicator to be stopped at the corresponding point in therotation of the element at the receiving station.

15. In a signaling system, a sending station comprising an elementdriven at a substantially constant speed, a receiving station comprisingan element driven at substantially the same speed, a rotatable indicatorarranged to be driven by said latter element through a yieldingconnection, means whereby the latter element drives the indicator,providing the indicator is not in a corresponding position, and causesthe driving connection to yield and disengage the in icator when theelements coincide in podriving connection between the indicator sition,an electromagnet for controlling the and its driving element, and meanswhereby at a predetermined point in the'travel of the element at thesending station the elec-- tromagnet is afiected to render the drivingconnection inoperative and cause'the indicator to be stopped at thecorresponding point in the rotation of receiving station.

16. In a signaling system, a sending station comprising anelement drivenat a sub stantially constant speed, a receiving station comprising anelement driven at substantially the same speed, a rotatable indicatorarranged to be driven by said latter element, means whereby the latterelement drives the indicator, an escapement mechanism for controllingthe movement of said driving means, an electromagnet energized theelement at the periodically in the rotation of the element at thesending station for operating the escapement, means whereby theoperation of the escapement is interrupted to stop the movement of saiddriving means unless the two elements correspond in position at apredetermined point, and means whereby at'a second predetermined pointin the rotation of the element at the sending station the electromagnetis energized to release the driving means and cause it to drive theindicator to a point predetermined at the sending station, whereuponsaid driving connection becomes inoperative and causes the indicator tostop.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of August,1918.

JOHN L. HALL.

